Duane Vermeulen in hospital

Springbok No 8 Duane Vermeulen said he is feeling positive after undergoing surgery on his neck in Durban on Wednesday.

Vermeulen, the South African Rugby Player of the Year in 2014, will take a few days off to recuperate before starting with his rehabilitation process.

“I’m feeling good and positive and can’t wait to start my rehabilitation,” said Vermeulen.

“All the staff at the hospital made things so easy for me and I would really like to thank them for their effort – I really was in great hands.”

Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer said the national side’s medical team will work tirelessly to get Vermeulen ready to be considered for Rugby World Cup selection.

“Duane is mentally very tough and he is a warrior who has always bled for his country and I’m expecting exactly the same attitude from him towards his rehabilitation,” said Meyer.

“He is a team player who has often played through the pain barrier and I know nothing will hold him back, while we will do everything we can to get Duane ready in time for the World Cup.”

Springbok team doctor Craig Roberts said: “The operation went well and we’re grateful to the medical personnel who looked after Duane. The road to recovery is a long one, but we’re confident that he can make it to the World Cup.”

Vermeulen will recuperate for a few days before joining the Springbok squad in Johannesburg upon their return from Brisbane next weekend.

Heyneke Meyer reveals who’s on standby at loose forward:

Bulls No 8 Pierre Spies was on Wednesday 1 of 3 players named as potential emergency call-ups to the Springbok squad should there be any more injuries in the loose forward department.

Coach Heyneke Meyer has been vocal from the beginning that the door remains open for players who were left out of his preliminary 49-man squad, but the possibility of him looking outside of the current group may have been heightened by 1st Duane Vermeulen and now Willem Alberts being in a race against time to make the Rugby World Cup showpiece.

In the absence of those 2 stalwarts, Meyer is without 2 of his most tried and tested ball carriers.

He has opted for a back row of Marcell Coetzee, Francois Louw and Warren Whiteley for this Saturday’s clash against the World XV at Newlands, while Schalk Burger must be content with a place on the bench as he gets over the final stages of his groin strain.

Burger will certainly bulk up the loose forward department for the World Cup and Meyer has re-emphasised the faith he has in his current squad. But any more injuries will likely result in him bringing in somebody from the outside, and on Wednesday he identified 3 players who he has been in contact with.

Meyer said that his concerns over the depth at eighthman were contributing towards him looking outside of the squad if there were any more injuries.

“I am a little bit worried about the eighthman position at this stage. Schalk can play there but he is not a classical No 8,” said Meyer.

“At this stage he’s the back-up there because with Willem being injured we’re a little bit short. We’re fine for now but we have to maybe look at bringing somebody in if there’s another injury.

“There are a few guys I can name. We looked at every single guy, and please take it in the right context, we keep at looking at guys,” Meyer said.

“We looked at a guy like Jacques Potgieter – he’s a great ball carrier and he’s done well.

“Pierre Spies can fulfil that role. I believe he’s always played well for the Boks.

“I’ve always believed Arno Botha has been unbelievable. Unfortunately he’s been injured for 2 years but he can fulfill that role.

“So that’s the 3 guys we’re looking at, and we’re looking at other guys as well. So if we do have an injury we’re in contact with the players and we’ll definitely look at getting someone in who can fulfill that role. But at this stage I’m happy with the guys in the squad that they can fulfill that role.”